Anzac centenary a day for all troops
The centenary of Anzac was a time to remember not just the Diggers of World War I but all servicemen and servicewomen, Victoria Cross recipient Daniel Keighran said yesterday.
"I think it is important on Anzac Day every year, regardless of a centenary or not," he said.
Cpl Keighran said that a series of constant deployments had seen tens of thousands of men and women serve their country in recent years. "Since 1999 we have had something like 75,000 troops deployed on operations around the world," he said.
Some members of the defence forces had been on multiple deployments.
Cpl Keighran said that despite the best efforts of Defence, some who served came home with traumatic injuries or other problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and needed help.
Some of those who served but had not gone on deployment overseas could also need help, he said.
Cpl Keighran was awarded the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest military honour, for extraordinary bravery in Afghanistan in 2010.
He spoke yesterday from Melbourne after launching a campaign to encourage Australians to support the activities of the Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust.
Cpl Keighran is an ambassador for the trust, which was set up in 2012. It provides financial, emotional and practical support to Diggers and their families in time of need.
Coles has thrown its weight behind the trust through the ADF Assistance Trust donation card campaign, offering themed cards for $2. All proceeds will go to the trust. Until April 28 it will also donate part proceeds from the sale of Coles bakery biscuits or cookie range and from the sale of its Coles brand spring water until October.
Cpl Keighran said that previous generations of Diggers had often been reluctant to talk about any issues they had as a result of their service.
He had recently talked to some Vietnam War and World War II veterans about the issues they had faced.
"They really didn't talk about it at all, even among their peers, if they were having problems," he said. "But the younger generation is coming forward, they are more willing to talk about it."
Cpl Keighran said the Defence leadership had made efforts to eradicate any stigma that previously might have been a concern for those who considered seeking help for stress-related issues.
However, there were still some who slipped through the net.
The key to tackling the issue was for those who were struggling to seek help early, he said.
It was important that service men and women were able to say "hey, something is not quite right, let me talk to someone", Cpl Keighran said.
